There are no warning signs and many people do not even know they have high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases your risk for a heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease. The best way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked.

Healthy eating for lower blood pressure : for the first time, a chef and nutritionist have teamed up to inspire you with over 100 delicious recipes

Paul Gayler with Gemma Heiser ; photography by Will Heap.

Lanham, MD : Kyle Books, c2010.

Chef Paul Gayler has devised more than 100 delicious dishes that contain as much nutrition as they do flavor and dispel the myth that people with high blood pressure are limited to a restricted diet. Recipes such as Panzanella Salad with Grilled Nectarines; Hazelnut Crusted Chicken with Leeks and Mushroom Vinaigrette; Pork Schnitzel with Apple, Sage, and Celeriac Remoulade; and Lemon Polenta Cake with Figs are all tempting enough for the entire family, and demonstrate just how easy and enjoyable it is to adapt to a healthy lifestyle.

Learn straightforward solutions you can incorporate both immediately and in the long term. Focusing on lifestyle factors readers can change, Dr. Rhoden weighs in on alternative therapies for reducing blood pressure, while Sarah Schein brings her dietary expertise to the table with practical advice on nutrition, tips for healthy food selection and preparation, and 70 tantalizing recipes each with its own nutritional breakdown.

For newly diagnosed patients and their families, this guide offers answers to 100 questions about kidney disease and hypertension, including those about diagnosis of kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, transplants, and dialysis. Townsend and Cohen (hypertension and clinical hypertension, U. of Pennsylvania) provide answers about kidneys and their function, links to high blood pressure, kidney disease and diabetes, causes of malfunctions, and kidney stones and their management. There is no bibliography. Annotation #169;2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

You can take steps to control high blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle and geting proper treatment by a healthcare provider.

If your blood pressure is always higher when you visit the doctor than your readings at home, take your blood pressure machine to the doctors office to see if the readings are the same. Then you and your doctor will know if your home readings are correct.

Maintaining a healthy weight is a good first step to a better lifestyle. The more you weigh, the more pressure it takes the heart to pump the blood. Sometimes shedding extra pounds can move your blood pressure back to the normal range.

Another idea is to eat a diet low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt. Stop adding salt when you bring food to the table. Try other seasonings such as fresh herbs and spices to add flavor to your food.

Physical activity may help lower your blood pressure. Find an aerobic activity that is right for you. Take a brisk walk 3-5 times a week, for 30 minutes. You might even find your blood pressure is at its lowest fifteen minutes after your walk.

For many learning to relax is important. We all have everyday stress that our bodies are equipped to handle. Find ways to handle the stress: don't take on too many extra tasks and maintain positive relationships.

Regularly visits to your medical professional are essential. Answer any questions the doctor might have about your past medical history and your present state of health. The answers you give are vital to the treatment the doctor will recommend.

Know what your blood pressure should be and work to keep it at that level.